Facebook vs. Google+ "Circles" - A New Social Network

On June 28, 2011 --> Google launched a brand new product called Google+. The product is currently in invitation-only Beta but will soon be released to the general public.

Google surprised the world this week when it unveiled Google+, the search giant's answer to Facebook. It's huge, it's social, and it's totally in your face. Google is clearly betting big on its latest foray into social networking, and it's making a point of highlighting many of the differences--and potential advantages--over Facebook.

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Google's New Social Network is called: Circles

Circles (kinda like, Social Circles) are what Google calls the various groups that you can organize your friends into. Once you've got them set up and populated, you then can pick which circles get to see the stuff you share.

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Some Are Already Praising the new Google+ Product

While tech enthusiasts are widely praising the new Google+ Product, some have found that the one feature that could take away from Facebook where it’s most dominant: Time on the site.

Facebook users are known for staying on the site for over half an hour a day. Yet many would ask the question, “Why on earth would anybody switch to Google+ from Facebook?”

However the reality is ... that users won’t have the option of not using Google+.

FACT: Google's Network already has more users than Facebook

Google has over one billion users. Users aren’t going to suddenly leave Facebook in droves, they’re just going to spend more time on all the sites in Google’s network.

As you're browsing around Google-powered sites there’s occasionally a red notification alert that pops up and immediately grabs your attention. Soon enough users are clicking through the various notifications and seeing what their friends have shared and who has recently begun sharing with them.

Is Google+ A Facebook Killer?

No, Google+ is not a “Facebook killer, but despite the company’s numerous failed attempts at getting into social media, the new Plus product gives users no other option but to accept the fact that Google is becoming exactly that: social.

This is clearly just the start. Once Google+ becomes stable and more widely used, the company will attempt to compete with Facebook where it matters most by building an entire social platform. The notifications are just one indicator of what lays ahead.

Have you tried Google+ yet? What do you think of their new Project?

Sources:  Google introduces the new Google+ Project! | Click here to view the Google+ Demo 

Abridged: Peter Pachal, PCMag.com